The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-10-25
- LApLANpERs sNow-sHoes.
PscuIiarit9es OF Their OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the Lapp Makes Hsadway Upon Them

FacuIIaritsem OF Their COpstructiOn-HOvv
the Lapp Makes Hsadway Upon Them
rChicaso Times
Saws an observer IN these regions de-
scribing the Lapp snow shoe. or SKI,
or ''skIdor:" There are two ribs or
birch or fir, six feet long, four TO i've
inches broad, and about half an inch
thick. In the middle, on the upper
ssde. is a followed, smooth spot for the
foot. above which there is strap, the
space allowing the Insertion or the point
of the shoe. On the other side groove
runs along the entire center. The SKI
is pointed and slightly curved at one
end, and the edges rounded. 1t might
be added that the ''skidor" Is a solid
piece Of wood, like weatherb0afd or
haitian, turned up in front, and de-
ponds for its bearing surface on the
snow on it's extreme length-hve or SIX
feet-rather than by wide spread, as
in the common snoW-shOe Of bent form
and cross weaving of thongs The
common snow-shoes, like those used by
some of our mountain Indians, are,
however, used in a few parts of arctic
Europe, hut mostly among the Nor
Wegians and Firms.
The Lapp runs on these ''skidors" as
the snow shoes are used, but mostly
assisting him are two short birch poles
or slaves with which he shoves himself
along, like an Indian polling his canoe
through shallow water, but the Lapp
has one poe IN each hand. When
Lapp goes down-hill ON his skidors he
uses one as a sledge on which to slide
and steer, while with the other he turns
his foot and scrapes the skidor, thus
regulating his gait Says the same au-
thority | quoted once above: 1.-The
Lapp begins to run on ski when mere
child, and attains great skill ID this
sport He runs with the greatest ease
up or down hill, Jumps the steepest in
clines, and speeds across lakes and
marshes, through forest and field;
hunts the wolf and the bear, or follows
the runaway reindeer, and undertakes
extremely long ourneys, following his
herd or visiting distant parts. y
Mr.. Oscar Dickson, one of NordenSk-
jolds patrons, being in LapIand at
Quick ok, thought he would get UP.
series of races among the Lapps on
skidors TO test their capabilities Of max
ing the speed they claimed. The dis
lance which they thought they had
travelled over the interior ice or mer de
glace of Greenland WAS 143 miles IN
fifty-seven hours two days nine hours)
going and coming Mr.. Dickson planned
bis races SO as to have about an equal
length of course, and it really was 141
miles long. The competition for the
high pr es offered took place
last April, and occupied a whole
week. Three hundred and fifty francs
was the highest, or first prize, and was
won by Lapp who had been with Nor
densk old on his Greenland inland ex-
petition. He got over his 141 miles in
i hours and % minutes, including all
his rests and stoppages, or about miles
an hour kept up steadily for nearly
whole day
The second prize was secured by a
Lapp who goOt in only half minute
after the first Two others got in
within % hours, and four more within
a day. All of them were apparently
unexhausted, and joined heartily in the
festivities that ended this singular con
test many of the contestants returning
at once to their homes, fifty to seventy
five miles distant, from which they had
come to sin in the races.